Special Achievement: Stuart Broad

Thursday 6 August: the fourth Ashes test at Trent Bridge. England lead 2-1, but anything bar victory would keep the series live going into the final match. The first day, often the first session, has proved crucial in this strangest of Ashes, where the winner of each contest could generally be identified by team.

The stage is set for a hero. Who's going to step up? The same man who always steps up: Stuart Christopher John Broad, bowler of the winning spell in the Oval Test of 2009, scorer of a crucial 65 at

Trent Bridge in 2013 (where he enraged Australians by standing his ground after nicking the ball) and, now, posting figures of 8-15 to bowl Australia out for 60.

Even in a dream such a scenario would be beyond credibility. But Broad made it so - and cemented his place as the definitive Ashes cricketer of the last five contests. Nobody else has made so many decisive contributions since 2009 onwards; even Australians, for whom Broad is a pantomime hate-figure, would have to begrudgingly cede that point. With James Anderson advanced in years and matches, the weight of leading the attack may soon fall on Broad's shoulders. He will carry it admirably.